DIRECTOR OF SPORT
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
Welcome
‘From world-leading research and teaching facilities to outstanding historical and cultural assets, our estate provides the physical foundations for our reputation as a great university and destination of choice for many around the world.’ PROFESSOR SIR DAVID EASTWOOD, VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRINCIPAL
‘We are looking to a appoint a Director of Sport to sit with the Campus Services team. This is a senior and high profile position within the University. It is an opportunity to lead sport at the University of Birmingham into its next exciting phase, following the very significant recent investment in its sporting estate, and the hosting of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Director of Sport will play a pivotal role in leading the next stage of strategic development for sport within the University and representing its interests within the HE and sport sectors, nationally and internationally.’
SIMON BRAY, DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS SERVICES
‘As the education market continues to change, we must ensure we are providing world-class facilities to support innovative teaching and enhance the student experience. From our collaborative teaching spaces and state-of-the-art laboratories to technology rich learning environments and accommodation, we are educating the next generation of graduates to be independent problem solvers, great leaders and influential global citizens.’ PROFESSOR KATHY ARMOUR, PRO-VICE-CHANCELLOR (EDUCATION)
‘Our resources and facilities are envied in the sector. At Birmingham, we put people at the heart of everything we do and we are committed to providing our outstanding, talented staff and students with first-class physical resources in a beautiful campus environment so that we can attract the best and brightest and that they may excel.’
PROFESSOR TIM JONES, PROVOST AND VICE-PRINCIPAL
The
University is seeking a suitably experienced professional with a passion and deep understanding of sport, fitness and wellbeing. It requires a blend of strategic and commercial acumen, academic empathy, and
strategic people leadership capability, to create an environment in which the diverse team can thrive and excel. They will have the ability to successfully balance commercial operations with a high quality student/ customer experience. In recent years the University has invested £65 million in new sports facilities on campus, which has helped bring the 2022 Commonwealth Games to Birmingham. This is an exciting part of the new Director’s portfolio, working in partnership with other Campus Services colleagues and a range of external partners. UoB Sport also provides various support to academic teaching and research, in particular for the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences. Our collaborative work in India and on the embryonic Graduate School of Sport are two recent strategic projects. This is a senior and high profile position within the University. It is an opportunity to lead sport at the University of Birmingham into its next exciting phase, following the very significant recent investment in its sporting estate, and the hosting of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Director of Sport will play a pivotal role in leading the next stage of strategic development for sport within the University and representing its interests within the Higher Education and sport sectors, nationally and internationally.
Introduction to the Director of Sport Role
The University of Birmingham
The
University was established in 1900, and has a pioneering history including being the country’s first civic University, the first Medical
School and the first faculty of commerce. The University offered the first ever sport degree in 1946 and became the first University to open a secondary school in 2015. In 2018, we also opened a new campus in Dubai, the first Russell Group University to do so. Today, the University of Birmingham is ranked in the top 100 globally and in the top 20 of all domestic league tables. The quality of what we do at Birmingham is widely recognised. The University’s prolific research portfolio has produced 2 Prime Ministers and eleven Nobel Prize winners, including 3 in 2016 for Physics and Chemistry. The University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences is ranked 6 in the world for its research.
The University of Birmingham is the largest of 5 higher education institutions in Birmingham with 23,000 undergraduates, 12,500 post-graduates and 8,000 staff. Our heritage as the original ‘redbrick’ is combined with one of the most compelling and ambitious agendas in Higher Education. Quite simply, at Birmingham we make things happen. The University is a founding member of the Russell Group (UK) and Universitas 21 (global) groups of research-intensive universities, and its alumni population exceeds 300,000, spread far and wide across the globe. The University’s campus spans over 250 acres, nestled in leafy green Edgbaston, just three miles from Birmingham city centre. The University is home to the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, housing works by Van Gogh, Picasso and Monet; and the 100 metre high Joseph Chamberlain Clock Tower (affectionately known as ‘Old Joe’) a prominent landmark visible from many parts of the city. We have been integral to some of the greatest scientific discoveries of recent times, such as the Higgs Boson and Gravitational Waves, and are pioneering new approaches to tackling some of the biggest global challenges facing society; from antibiotic resistance and maternal health to conflict resolution and access to education.
The
City has played an important part in the history of modern sport. It was the first city to be declared a National City of Sport by the Sports Council. Birmingham is also the City which founded the
world’s first football league competition in the late 1880s (based on Aston Villa FC and Birmingham City FC). It is where the modern game of lawn tennis was developed around 1860 in Edgbaston; and the Edgbaston Archery and Lawn Tennis Club remains the oldest tennis club in the world. The Birmingham and District Cricket League is also the oldest cricket league in the world. Today, the City has some world class sporting facilities, and plays host to some global sporting events, including: Edgbaston Cricket Ground Most recently hosted 2019 World Cup Cricket, and is the venue for Commonwealth Games cricket in 2022 Villa Park and St Andrew’s Football Grounds Arena Birmingham World Indoors and Grand Prix Indoor Athletics All England Badminton Championships since 1994 World and European Gymnastics Davies Cup Tennis Commonwealth Games 2022 venue The Alexander Stadium Diamond League Athletics Commonwealth Games 2022 athletics venue, and Opening & Closing Ceremonies Edgbaston Priory Club Birmingham Classic WTA Tour Event British Junior Open Squash Championships The Belfry Hosted the Ryder Cup on 4 occasions
Birmingham - City of Sport
In
As well as being the competition venue for squash and hockey, the University of Birmingham is also likely to be an important training venue, including use of the University’s 50m pool and 8-lane athletics track. The University has established a Steering Group to plan its contribution to and benefit from the 2022 Games. The strategic sub-groups include Venues & Sport; Student Experience; Research; Profile and Communications; Culture; Commercial and Business Engagement. The University’s Venues Operations Group includes relevant functional leads within the University, and is led by the Director of Sport. It includes Sport, Estates, Security, Catering, Cleaning, Sustainability, The Guild of Students and IT Services.
December 2017, Birmingham was officially declared host for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The University has just been named as the principal village for athletes and officials for the Birmingham 2022 Games with the Vale Student Accommodation Village hosting 2,800 athletes and officials across the 12-day event. The Games provide an opportunity to showcase the University’s significant strengths to an international audience The Games are scheduled to take place between 27th July and 7th August, with the following venues and sports/disciplines:
• Alexander Stadium : Opening & Closing Ceremonies, athletics • Arena Birmingham : Gymnastics • Birmingham City Centre : 3x3 Basketball, beach volleyball • Edgbaston Cricket Ground : Women’s cricket • University of Birmingham : Squash and hockey • National Exhibition Centre : Badminton, boxing, table tennis, netball, weightlifting
• Sandwell Aquatics Centre : Aquatics • Sutton Park : Triathlon • Ricoh Arena : Rugby 7s, judo, wrestling • Cannock Chase : Cycling (mountain bike, road, time trial) • Victoria Park, Leamington Spa : Lawn bowls • Lee Valley VeloPark, London : Track cycling
Commonwealth Games
UoB
Campus Services portfolio sits within Professional Services, comprising 1,100 staff and an annual turnover of almost £60m. Overall, this
Campus Services
is one of the largest campus services portfolios in the Higher Education sector. As an income-generating department, Campus Services seeks to strike a balance between enhancing the student and staff experience and ensuring a financial return to the institution through the effective use of University assets. Sport and Fitness forms part of the University of Birmingham’s Campus Services alongside: Venues, Facilities Services, Security, Catering, Conferencing and Marketing, Accommodation and our Hotel. 2026 vision The University has set itself a number of clear and challenging goals, charting a course for balanced growth underpinned by financial stability. Campus Services’ main objectives are geared towards driving two strands of Birmingham’s 2026 vision: • A destination of choice for the best researchers and students in the world. • Financially strong, with a healthy surplus to continue to invest in our academic mission and the student experience. The Director of Sport is part of the Campus Services Senior Leadership Team, led by Director of Campus Services, Simon Bray. Simon’s CV includes a wide range of senior positions within Higher Education and Further Education, and he has a sporting pedigree as the last amateur to win the British Road Race (cycling) title prior to it going professional.
Sport & Fitness
UoB
Sport & Fitness is a team of 150 staff, providing a diverse range of sport, fitness,
personal development and wellbeing opportunities to students, staff, local community and others. Provision covers facilities, programmes, services and events, from absolute beginner level to elite performance athletes and players. SPORT STRATEGY Although UoB Sport & Fitness has a current strategy, Sport’s Senior Management Team is currently in the process of producing a draft University Strategy for Sport, for future endorsement by the University’s Executive Board. The current Sport & Fitness strategy has the following vision, mission and strategic goals.
OUR VISION
OUR MISSION
Destination of choice as a global sporting university at the heart of an ambitious city
Enabling people to thrive, fulfil their potential and achieve extraordinary things
The strategic goals for UBSport & Fitness have 3 strands:
• Which is best in class (amongst RG universities) across the range of opportunities we offer • Contributes to recruitment & retention of talented students and staff • Creates proud and loyal alumni networks via the development of strong sport-based relationships and communities • A first choice partner and venue for collaborative projects and events
Provide a distinctive Birmingham sporting experience
• Encourage and support the physical & mental wellbeing of our communities • Create an active and healthy campus where physical & mental wellbeing is recognised as important to the success of the University, and is embedded in our culture, helping our community(ies) to thrive
Wellbeing
Talent development and sporting success
• Provide sector-leading dual career support for talented sportsmen and women who choose Birmingham to pursue their academic and sporting ambitions • Support the development of tomorrow’s leaders of business, education, sport and society, through the vocational experience they gain through their involvement in sport • Achieve and sustain a national and international reputation as a leading (top 5) Russell Group University for sport Values
RESPECT INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE INNOVATIVE COLLABORATIVE
62% of students participate in sport
Participation Facts & Figures
1,000 children and 100 adults take part in the swim programme as well as over 40 local schools for swim lessons
Try-A-Sport: 10 week introductory coaching programmes in a variety of sports at beginner & improver levels
170 teams (1,800+ participants) took part in 2019-20 campus leagues
Growing range of physical and mental wellbeing activities across campus
Student Sport Clubs Birmingham has 55 student sports clubs, attracting over 4,500 student members. Around 500 students volunteer annually for Club Committees, with clubs operating to the philosophy of ‘student clubs run for students by students’. Birmingham enters 77 teams in BUCS team championships. Over recent years UoB’s most successful sports have included hockey, athletics, squash, archery, netball, golf, cycling, gymnastics and ultimate. The women’s hockey club has an enviable record over the last decade or so, not only in BUCS, but as the longest standing University team in England Hockey’s National Premier Leagues, and the only club in England to have 4 teams in the National League (men’s and women’s 1st & 2nd teams). The club has also produced a steady stream of internationals, including 2 Olympic gold medallists in Rio. The Athletics Club has also attracted and produced a steady stream of national and international athletes, including Olympians, World Championship and World University medallists. The Athletics Club currently hosts one of the two initial British Athletics Talent Hubs in recognition of the performance environment at the University. Women’s recurve archery has had a particularly successful period, having won each indoor and outdoor BUCS team title since 2016. The Performance Team and Scholarships In 2019-20 UoB supported 82 scholars, comprising: • 31 full scholars (national/international) • 32 club scholars (national) • 18 women’s hockey (team scholarship) 30 of those scholars competed at international level, 14 at full senior level. 7 UoB students or alumni returned from Rio 2016 with medals, 3 Olympic and 4 Paralympic, including 4 gold medals. One of those was hockey player Lily Owsley, who returned to her 2nd years Sports Science studies following her Olympic triumph.
Student Skills and Workforce Development
Over 400 students engage in The Extra Mile, collectively delivering almost 10,000 volunteer hours during the year. UoB’s students are often the predominant volunteer workforce for major events in the city such as the Birmingham 10K and Half-Marathon. Over the next 4 years, sport aims to contribute 225,000 volunteer hours to the University’s Birmingham In Action campaign, as part of Development & Alumni Office’s one million hours target. Events Since the investment in new facilities, and helped by being a Commonwealth Games venue, UoB Sport has become increasingly attractive as an events venue. Successful events such the 2012 Jamaican pre-Olympic Camp (repeated in 2017), the 2015 Rugby World Cup preparation camp for South Africa, the 2018 UK Transplant Games and 2018 World University Squash Championships. The University also hosts a range of community events such as the annual Birmingham School Games Collaboration and Partnerships UoB Sport & Fitness works in partnership with a wide range of organisations, locally, regionally, national and international. The University is a designated centre for a range of sports, including: • FA Women’s Football Performance Centre and a FA Grassroots Hub • In 2019, UoB was awarded funding to become a London Marathon Training Base and a British Athletics Talent Hub • Hub for the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme • Collaborative partnership with the Sports Authority of India
Job Description
Role Summary With the support of the Director of Campus Services, the Director of Sport is the University’s strategic lead for sport and fitness and supports the University’s wider wellbeing agenda. They lead a large complex team across a broad range of sport and related programmes and services; with an annual turnover approaching £8m. The recent capital investment in facilities places increased emphasis on achieving an appropriate balance between driving commercial revenue generation and delivering an outstanding student experience. Key responsibilities of the Director of Sport Strategy • The Director of Sport will lead strategic planning and implementation for sport within the University, establishing a clear role for sport in supporting the University’s strategic framework. It will involve working in partnership with other Professional Services colleagues, relevant academic colleagues, the Guild of Students and a range of external partners and organisations. • The strategy will need to be adaptable to a rapidly changing environment in higher education and sport, and be sufficiently agile to anticipate threats and capitalise on opportunities. The Director of Sport will play an entrepreneurial role in ensuring the University capitalises on the benefits of its investment in sports facilities, including student recruitment, enhanced visibility/recognition as a leading Russell Group sporting university (including branding & media exposure), profit generation, recruitment of talented student-athletes, community engagement, and attracting major events. They will develop and sustain an effective strategic network within the sport & fitness industry, nationally/ internationally and use it effectively to leverage value/impact for the University.
Leading People The Director of Sport leads a team of c. 150 contracted staff alongside a significant casual and volunteer workforce. A summary of UBSport’s organisation chart.
Director of Campus Services
Director of Sport
Raymond Priestley Centre Manager
Assistant Director Business Operations
Business Efficacy Manager
Head of Performance & Coaching
The Director will be required to provide strategic leadership to the diverse range of staff, to create an inspiring working environment and culture that reflects UBSport’s collective values. They will have a proven track record of effective people management and development and know how to develop, nurture and get the best out of their team. They will also have the ability to effectively engage with and influence a wide range of colleagues across the diversity of the University, and be willing to contribute to the leadership of the sector.
Lead Business & Financial Planning
• The Director of Sport will lead effective translation of strategy to realistic and sustainable operational business plans, budgets and performance targets/indicators via effective delegation of responsibilities and accountability to direct reports. They will ensure effective systems and processes are in place to achieve objectives and business effectiveness, including appropriate support from Professional Services’ business partners (finance, HR, IT). This includes short- and longer-term financial planning and project business plans based on full-economic costing. • The Director of Sport will need to be strategically and politically astute to negotiate a fair University subsidy to support the student experience aspects of UBSport’s offer, to ensure the University remains competitive in the Higher Education student recruitment market in terms of perceived value for money and quality of experience. It is also important for UBSport to maximise the business opportunities for the University from external funding, partnerships, events, consultancy, event management, and recruitment initiatives, etc. Facilities Planning and Management • With the level of recent investment, UBSport has an impressive, high quality sporting estate, and with that comes the challenges of ensuring it is properly maintained, that plans are in place for longer-term renewals, and that funding requirements are accurately projected in budgets. The current drive for improved transparency with regard to cross-charging will help to understand the full cost of sports facility operations, particularly with regard to Estates’ costs and any new facility developments. • Occupancy across UBSport’s different facilities is a crucial outcome for the Director of Sport to drive with their team in optimising participation and income generation.
Reputation and Brand Profile • The Director of Sport will lead their team to ensure UBSport’s profile, professional reputation and confidence within the University is sustained at a high level. This extends to enhancing the University’s reputation and profile through sport and through major sporting events attracted to the University, including optimising the value of hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and specifically at the University. • The Director of Sport should be a major contributor to the production and implementation of a University events strategy in collaboration with the Conferences and Events team, Birmingham City Council and other relevant partners. Partnerships and Collaboration • UBSport’s delivery sits within a complex web of partnerships and collaboration; and requires development of strategic networks, profile and influencing. The Director must have the ability to build rapport and confidence across a range of University functions and departments to capitalise on the strengths of sport to the University and externally. Important external partners include Birmingham City Council, Sport Birmingham (the City’s strategic sport partnership), relevant national governing bodies of sport, and a range of local community clubs, some of which have long-standing strategic partnerships. • Within the University, UBSport’s collaboration with, and support for the work of academic colleagues is becoming increasingly important, and UBSport and the School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation have become much closer partners. Working with the Head of School and other academic colleagues to identify further strategic opportunities is an important part of this role. External Profile and Influencing • The Director of Sport will be proficient at strategic networking and building their external profile to ensure the reputation and profile of the University is sustained and enhanced in and through sport, such that the University is a recognised first-choice partner in relevant sporting initiatives and other events within the city, region and nationally. They should also encourage and support relevant members of the UBSport team to contribute to local, regional and national sporting bodies where relevant to UBS’s objectives or to the individual’s professional development.
Skills and Experience • Proven track record of successful leadership and management of a multi-disciplinary team, preferably in a sporting environment • At least degree or equivalent, preferably in a sport &/or management related discipline • Proven strategic thinker, with the ability to engage in strategic debate to achieve innovative strategic outcomes and new opportunities • Highly proficient in, and with a proven track record of business and financial planning & management • Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills • Highly confident in application of relevant mathematical disciplines to business planning, e.g. statistics, algebra, financial and other numerical modelling • Ability to maintain attention to detail alongside seeing the overall strategic picture • Ability to deliver results in a pressured environment • Excellent inter-personal skills that build trust, respect and rapport, and creates mutually beneficial relationships with a wide variety of people to influence perceptions and opinions – politically savvy • Communication: ability to communicate thoughts and ideas to others, in writing or speaking, in a clear, concise and confident manner, to effectively engage, persuade and influence a range of individuals and groups. • Excellent presentation skills • Track record of delivering results through successful partnership and collaboration • Excellent organisational skills and ability to effectively prioritise • Negotiations skills, diplomacy, adaptability, patience and resilience • Will have an effective national network within the sports industry Knowledge • Detailed knowledge of current structure, politics and dynamics of sport and its governance in the UK (i.e. which bodies do what) • Knowledge of the general landscape for sport in the UK (e.g. trends and
Person Specification
The
Director of Sport will bring the skills and attributes, and proven track record, of a senior operational and strategic leader in order to support the University’s strategic aspirations and operational requirements of Sport.
The Director will have a mix of strong commercial, entrepreneurial, relevant operational and university/sports sector experience. They will have the ability and desire to contribute to a broad leadership and business agenda within Campus Services, Professional Services and across the University. Intellectually confident, and with the personal qualities to succeed in a highly complex, Russell Group University, they will have an ability to build rapport and collaborate as a team player, and leader, with diverse groups and individuals across the University.
patterns in participation in the leisure industry) • Business and financial planning & management • An understanding of: Sports facility management
Membership management & customer service Sports development Performance sport (sports science/medicine)
Marketing & communications • General understanding of relevant statutory and other guidelines relevant to operating a large, multi-functional sports business • Knowledge of Higher Eduction/Education and key issues influencing the sector • General understanding of teaching and lecturing strategies to enhance student experience and role the sport can play • General understanding of marketing & branding • Broad knowledge of modern IT systems and their application to enhancing business processes and customer service • Understanding of National Governing Bodies of sport and the current environment in which they operate
Relationship Who
What
Director of Campus Services
Direct reporting relationship. Close working on strategy. Planning and delivery. Setting parameters and frameworks for HR and finance planning and implementation across sport. Regular partnership working and mutual support e.g. on projects, systems and service enhancements. Ensuring effective planning and delivery of Estates functions are in place. Intervention when issues need to be escalated. No formal relationship but SO is invited to UoBSport general management meetings plus monthly 1-1 meetings. Liaise at strategic level on matters of mutual interest to optimise collective value of sport to the University. Articulate mechanisms and strategies to optimise student experience and engagement in order to impact teaching and learning. Liaise as and when required e.g. on wellbeing, student conduct, legal, CWG etc. Mutual support to develop and sustain relationships with alumni and fund-raising. Lead of venues liaison in particular and support colleagues in other areas. Monthly meetings with CEO and Sports Officer.
Finance & HR Partners
Campus Services SMT members Senior Estates Colleagues
Guild Sports Officer
Guild CEO
Head of School - SportexR and other academic Colleagues Professional Services function leads (various) Development & Alumni Relations (DARO) Birmingham 2022 CWG Organising Committee Other Directors of Sport within Higher Education Birmingham City Council Community Sports Clubs British Universities & Colleges Sport
Contribution and engagement mainly at strategic level.
Direct personal contact or via active membership of Senior Manager’s Network.
Strategic alliance mainly on attracting major events.
Various relationships and partnerships which may include use of facilities hosting major events, delivering programmes or services or supporting elite athletes. Bodies of Sport Other partners and organisations Sport Birmingham Strategic activity around projects/events in the city. National Government
Further information & Application process
For
a confidential discussion to learn more about the role and opportunity please contact the University’s appointed recruitment partner, Hayley Mintern of The Management Recruitment Group.
Applications should consist of a comprehensive CV (of not more than 4 pages) and supporting cover letter (of not more than 2 pages) outlining key matching experience and rationale for applying for the post. (Applications should be sent to hayley.mintern@mrgpeople.co.uk) Closing date is Sunday 20th September 2020. Interviews with the University of Birmingham will take place on week commencing 5th October 2020. You can view the university’s website here; http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/
Hayley Mintern T: 020 3962 9900 M: 07530 680 184 E: hayley.mintern@mrgpeople.co.uk
52-54 Gracechurch Street- London EC3V 0EH Tel 020 3962 9900
mrgpeople.co.uk
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